Jedinak Scores For Aussies In Germany Draw

26 March 2015

Mile Jedinak scored a superb free-kick in Australia's 2-2 friendly draw against world champions Germany in Kaiserslautern last night.

The Palace and Socceroos skipper notched his eighth goal for this country, their 1,000th in full internationals, and his third in his last eight appearances as they led their opponents going into the final stages, but a late strike by Lukas Podolski gave the home side a share of the spoils in this friendly.

The home side had taken the lead after 17 minutes when an offside-looking Marco Reus handed them the lead, before James Troisi leveled for the Aussies with a bullet header five minutes before half-time.

Jedinak then put his side in front five minutes after the restart with a curling free-kick which found the top corner from 25 yards out, but Podolski swept home the ball from close range with nine minutes to play to draw level.

It was his first game for his country since their Asian Cup success in January, and the captain admits that things are looking promising, stating post-match: “It will take [belief] to the next level. I think everybody, if they didn't believe, will now.

“If we really are going to take it up to the next level you have to be a little disappointed that we didn't hold on considering the amount of opportunities we had.

“They had some opportunities as well but it’s part of us growing as a group, even against the likes of Germany.”

Australia will now travel to Macedonia on Monday for another friendly before the midfielder returns to Palace.

Also in action last night was James McArthur, who played 63 minutes of Scotland's 1-0 friendly win against Home Nations rivals Northern Ireland at Hampden Park.

Christophe Berra bagged the game's only goal five minutes from time to give the Scots victory, giving them a boost heading into their Euro 2016 qualifier against Gibraltar on Sunday.

That was McArthur's 18th cap for his country, and he will be hoping to add to that total against UEFA's newest side on the weekend.

On-loan midfielder Barry Bannan was also named on the bench for Gordon Strachan's side but failed to come on during the game.